European Inventor Award 2013

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Today in Amsterdam, for the eighth time, the winners of the European Inventor Award were announced, in the presence of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix. Each year, the ceremony honours outstanding inventors from all over the world with the “Oscar of Technology”. The prizes are awarded by the European Patent Office to inventors who have made a significant contribution to social, economic and technological progress.

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IV Oswald Schröder, Spokesperson / Principal Director Communications
“It is quite difficult, to explain what innovation is really about and how it functions. What is the relationship between an invention, a patent and society. And therefore we have chosen 15 concrete examples, probably the best worldwide, to demonstrate, how innovation functions.”

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This year’s finalists covered fields as diverse as medicine, furniture and display technology. A total of 15 engineers and scientists were nominated in five separate categories, as well as being eligible for the Popular Prize.

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The international ceremony played host to a veritable who’s who of prominent figures from the worlds of science, politics and high society. Alongside Princess Beatrix, EU Commissioner Michel Bernier and the President of the European Patent Office, Benoît Battistelli, were also in attendance.

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Among the proud winners of the technology Oscar was the Frenchman Patrick Couvreur. With his invention, the nanotechnology pioneer has given new hope for cancer treatment that does not harm healthy tissue.

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IV Patrick Couvreur, winner in the category “research”
“I am of course very happy, not only personally for me, but especially for my research group, which is composed of young student who are doing either PHD or Post-doc. So its really a very important recognition.”

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The Swedish researcher Pål Nyrén has, together with his team, discovered a new, faster way of decoding DNA. His methods have opened up exciting new possibilities for targeted, personalised medicine.

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IV Pål Nyrén, winner in the category “small and medium sized enterprises”
“It has been a big recognition. Not only my friends are calling in, but the press and interviews, filming and such things. This has been a really good thing the European Inventor Award.”

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In the lifetime achievement category, the award went to Switzerland’s Martin Schadt, the inventor of the LCD technology. In the past year alone, more than 40 million displays based on this technology have been produced.

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IV Martin Schadt, winner in the category “lifetime achievement”
“This award means a great deal to me. It is a great honour and a huge surprise. I never thought that I could be a winner. Especially because all the other winners have carried out such fantastic work.”

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The next European Inventor Award will take place in Berlin, in 2014.

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General views of Amsterdam / external shots Beurs van Berlage

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Arrival of Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands
Greeting by Benoît Battistelli, President European Patent Office
Line of Honour at the foyer, kiss on the hand by Michel Barnier, EU commissioner

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Arrival of EU commissioner Michel Barnier
Greeting by Benoît Battistelli, President European Patent Office
Walk to the foyer